The farm-to-table movement has swept the nation, and Wyoming is no exception. Owners of cafes, restaurants and breweries across the state pride themselves on serving up quality food made with fresh, local ingredients. When you combine Wyoming’s wide-open spaces with naturally-sourced ingredients, you get a dining experience unlike any other. Try these farm-to-table restaurants to get a taste of the state in its purest form.
1. The Middle Fork
The Middle Fork serves up breakfast, brunch and lunch in Lander. Restaurant owner Jenna Ackerman works to support her community by sourcing as many local ingredients as she can. The carefuly-crafted menu features dishes with ingredients from Wyoming Custom Meats in Hudson, Lost Wells Ranch in Riverton and Farmer’s Sauerkraut, Dandelion Farm and Spear S. Produce, all located in Lander. Ackerman and her team also frequent the Lander Farmer’s Market to round out their efforts of serving fresh food in a sustainable way. Stop in for brunch and try a local favorite, like the eggs benedict, corned beef hash or bisquits and gravy.
2. Sweet Melissa’s Café
Sweet Melissa Café serves up vegan and vegetarian fare in the heart of downtown Laramie. Meat eaters: Don’t be scared away. This restaurant does a superb job of mixing the flavors of its locally-sourced ingredients to create dishes even the biggest carnivores can get behind. Try the smothered sweet potato and black bean burrito or the vegetable stir fry with thai peanut sauce (pictured) to give your tastebuds a treat. Sweet Melissa’s also features a kids menu, gluten-free menu and delicious deserts, like peanut better pie and fried banana bread.
3. Durham Buffalo Ranch
Durham Buffalo Ranch uses holistic management to operate its 55,000 acre bison ranch near Wright. This means taking full advantage of the natural grasslands and streams that support a variety of other wildlife to raise quality, grass-fed bison. While the ranch itself doesn’t serve food, it does provide meat to a handful of local restaurants in Wyoming. Find Durham bison burgers and more at Hank’s Roadside Bar and Grill or Open Range Steakhouse in Wright or at Pokey’s Barbeque & Smokehouse, the Prime Rib or Silver Creek Steakouse in Gillette.
4. Roasted Bean and Cuisine
This lunch and dinner stop in Riverton crafts American dishes using local ingredients. Their beef is sourced from the community’s Lost Wells Ranch, a family-owned cattle ranch that raises grass-fed beef. Head in for dinner and try the Local Lost Well Cattle Co. Grass Fed Filet Mignon.
